Arris is teaming with a Silicon Valley startup to create a new pay TV set-top software platform designed to mix traditional broadcast and cable network programming with content from over-the-top services.
Partnering with Palo Alto, Calif.-based TV app maker Wurl, Arris announced the debut of Arris Market, what it describes as a "standards-based" platform, featuring a customizable HTML5 interface that's designed to run on Arris Whole Home Solution set-tops.
"The Wurl platform enables cable operators using the Arris Whole Home Solution to give their subscribers access to a broad selection of popular streaming services without the complex setup of additional third-party devices or 'smart TV' technology," said Sean Doherty, CEO of Wurl, Inc. "This new capacity to select and discover both traditional and OTT content from one remote control has exciting implications for the future of set-top functionality."
In its press release, Arris cites its own research, showing that pay TV subscribers are watching an average of seven hours of streamed TV every week, to go along with the 11 hours of weekly broadcast and 11 hours of cable programming they're consuming.
Founded in 2010 and privately funded with $6.5 million, Wurl is a white-label programming service that provides OTT program discovery apps to pay TV providers.
The Arris Market will be demonstrated at the upcoming NCTC Independent Show in Kansas City, Mo., July 27.
"We view the launch of the Arris Market as a cornerstone in developing and deploying tomorrow's interactive video services," said Debbie Stackis, senior VP and GM, consumer solutions at Arris. "We continue to advance our roadmap and focus on the principles of quality, flexibility, and efficiency to foster our leadership position in content delivery."
For more:
- read this Arris press release
- read this Light Reading story
- read this Multichannel News story
Related links:
IHS: Global set-top revenue hit all-time high in 2013, will peak in 2015
Arris buys SeaWell Networks, will integrate adaptive bit rate technology
Arris sales boosted by Comcast, Time Warner Cable demand for gateways